All the twists and turns of the Premier League title race have come down to a simple scenario- Chelsea need two wins to secure the prize and this Sunday’s match at Liverpool is the main obstacle.
No one seriously expects a Wigan side who have secured their Premiership spot to stand in Chelsea’s way on the final weekend, so this game is basically the last chance for supporters of Manchester United.
Conspiracy theories are already circulating to the effect that the Anfield side aren’t going to gift their Manchester rivals the title- one which would draw them level with Liverpool for most title wins.
For those with a less cynical view, the fact that Liverpool had to play a Europa League semi-final on Thursday evening might be a more significant factor; Chelsea have enjoyed a week’s rest since their demolition job on Stoke City.
The crushing disappointment of losing to Athletico Madrid won’t have helped the morale of Rafa Benitez’s squad and Chelsea’s players will have been only too glad to see their opponents taken to extra time.
There is no sense of nerves coming out of Stamford Bridge. Recent wobbles appear to have been put aside and Chelsea’s best attacking players are in good form- and the squad are hungry to finish on a high because there is likely to be a lot reconstruction at the club over the summer.
Liverpool will still have something to play for because whatever the results achieved by Spurs and Manchester City on Saturday, the Reds will still retain a mathematical chance of slipping into fourth place.
However, it’s difficult to see Benitez’s squad being able to hold a fit, rested and confident Chelsea. Without Fernando Torres Liverpool don’t carry the same threat and the Blues defence has looked sound in the past few games.
Manchester United will be expected to take three points from their own trip to Sunderland but that may be in vain. The steam went out of United’s season when Wayne Rooney picked up an injury and though they have ground out some good results since their Champions League exit, Chelsea have just a bit more quality in their ranks.
Rooney’s form kept the teams in parity but Chelsea have always seemed the more likely winners since August and now they have the chance to prove it, by setting up a glorious final day on their own turf.
- How Chelsea Beat Manchester United to the Title
- Liverpool v Arsenal – The Gunners Still Think They Have A Title Shot
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Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery will plead his case to UEFA next week as he looks to have his Champions League ban overturned in order to face Inter Milan in the final in Madrid on Saturday May 22 (Bayern 9/4, draw 9/4, Inter evens – 90 Minutes).
A surprise defeat at home to Sampdoria last weekend saw Roma hand Inter Milan the initiative in the title race and nothing but a win will do the Roman side this Saturday against Parma ahead of next week’s crunch showdown with Inter at the San Siro.
Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are both expected to be back to boost Manchester United’s title bid in Sunday’s clash at Sunderland (latest title odds: United 6/4, Chelsea 1/2 ).
Jose Mourinho’s victory dance over the Nou Camp pitch on Wednesday night signalled the end of Barcelona’s hopes of Champions League glory and with that the pleasure that would have been taken from lifting aloft the trophy at the home of arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Salomon Kalou has warned his Chelsea team-mates that they must win at Liverpool on Sunday if they are going to win the Premier League title (Chelsea 1/2 Outright) this season.
Raul Garcia has warned his Atletico Madrid team-mates they can expect a hostile atmosphere when they go to Anfield to protect a 1-0 semi-final lead against Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday (4/7 Liverpool 3/1 draw 9/2 Atletico Madrid – match betting).
Hamburg coach Ricardo Moniz says his side have nothing to fear as they bid to become the first side to beat Fulham (6/5 to win in the match betting) at Craven Cottage in Europe this season.
New Zealand (8/1 to qualify from Group F) are going to face a tough battle at this summer’s World Cup and their chances are not going to be helped by the lack of match action a number of their stars have seen in recent months.
Based purely on the history of two-leg European ties, Fulham have a far better chance of making the first Europa League Final than Liverpool- but if Bobby Zamora isn’t fit to play, the Reds might be the better bet.